Depression makes heart failure worse

People with heart failure must be screened for signs of depression and offered counselling, scientists say.

A small study presented at the European Society of Cardiology suggested patients with depression were more likely to die within a year.

Though many factors are likely to influence this including the severity of the disease, researchers say managing depression is important.

Heart failure can happen when the muscle of the heart becomes too weak or too stiff, making it harder to pump blood around the body. And as this becomes worse patients can feel very tired and short of breath.

It is likely that other factors are important as well; some people with depression may not feel motivated to take their pills or seek help quickly, scientists suggest.